The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has called for sustained leadership stability within the nation’s colleges of education, emphasising that continuity in administration is vital for institutional growth, policy consistency, and academic excellence.
COEASU made the clarion call in a move to sustain the ongoing reforms as the tenure of the executive secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education approaches its conclusion in March 2026.
The union urges the federal government to appoint a professional from within the colleges of education system as the next executive secretary of the commission, stressing that such a move would consolidate reforms and strengthen institutional stability.
Lawan Lawan, the president of COEASU, in a statement, applauded Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, for historic contributions to the sector.
“His commitment to the full implementation of the Dual Mandate and his firm stance in protecting revitalisation funding for colleges of education have rekindled hope across our campuses and restored confidence in Nigeria’s teacher-training institutions,” Lawan emphasised in the statement.
COEASU president further emphasised that the reforms align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises human capital development, quality education, and institutional efficiency.
“Teacher education sits at the heart of this vision because no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers,” the statement reads in part.
Lawan, on behalf of the union, reiterated that continuity, stability, and credibility in leadership are critical at this stage of reform. Drawing comparisons across Nigeria’s tertiary education system, the union pointed out that regulatory agencies function most effectively when led by professionals from the sectors they supervise.
“Experience across Nigeria’s tertiary education system shows that regulatory bodies function best when led by professionals from within the sectors they supervise,” COEASU noted.
Stressing its point further, the union made references to similar practices in other arms of tertiary education, noting that the National Universities Commission has consistently drawn its executive secretaries from the university system# as well as the National Board for Technical Education, which it said has benefited from leadership rooted in the polytechnic sector.
“This practice has ensured insider understanding, stakeholder confidence, and policy continuity.
“It is therefore both proper and consistent with national precedent that the next Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education should come from the Colleges of Education sector,” COEASU emphasised.
Besides, the union maintained that appointing a college-of-education professional would deepen implementation of the Dual Mandate Act, strengthen curriculum development, sustain revitalisation initiatives, and improve the quality of teacher education nationwide.
“Appointing a tested colleges-of-education professional will also be remembered as a defining milestone of the minister’s tenure, a masterstroke that secures his legacy as the minister who stabilised teacher education and strengthened Nigeria’s human capital foundation,” the union said.
COEASU pledged its readiness to work with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that reforms are consolidated and implemented effectively.
“COEASU stands ready to work constructively with government and other stakeholders to ensure that the next executive secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education possesses the experience, credibility, and insider understanding required to consolidate reforms and move teacher education forward in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the union assured.
